United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Concludes 53rd Session in Vienna

United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Concludes 53rd Session in Vienna

VIENNA, 18 June (UN Information Service) - The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) has concluded its deliberations at its 53rd session, from 9 to 18 June, on ways and means to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes and ensure that space technology and its applications continue to benefit many areas critical to all humanity. Delegates concluded their debates over crucial issues such as water resources and climate change, and reached an agreement to issue a report on international cooperation in the use of space-derived geospatial data for sustainable development.

The following are other highlights:

The Committee agreed to hold a high-level segment session in June 2011 to commemorate two key milestones in the international cooperation in outer space: its 50th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the first human space flights, through the events that will see participation of Ministers, heads of space agencies, astronauts and other dignitaries, who address 50 years of achievements by the Committee, 50 years of human space flight and the future of humanity in outer space.

The Committee congratulated the Russian Federation on the successful launch from the Baikonur cosmodrome of the manned spacecraft Soyuz TMA-19, which marked the hundredth launch under the International Space Station (ISS) programme, as well as Japan on the successful return of its unmanned Hayabusa space mission with the first-ever sample of material from an asteroid for analysis.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) signed an agreement with the Government of China on 17 June to establish a new office of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and EmergencyResponse (UN-SPIDER) in Beijing, which will contribute to the implementation of UN-SPIDER by raising awareness, supporting Governments and organizations and providing technical advice in the use and access of space-based information for disaster risk management and emergency response.

UNOOSA received a model of GPSIII satellite from Vice-President of Lockheed Martin, Rick Ambrose. The GPSIII model is now a part of the Permanent Space Exhibit of the United Nations Office at Vienna, which highlights the growing socioeconomic benefits of global navigation satellite systems worldwide.